Rösti

Gotthelf, the famous Bernese writer, did not shy away from his pleasure: he liked them golden, crisp and steaming. He describes in his books what he means by good rösti. He didn’t like "rösti that let dust clouds escape when you open or close the door" at all, because those rösti were way too dry! The cooks who skimped on the lard were, according to him, saving the ends of candles.

Originally, rösti consisted of leftover boiled potatoes eaten as a soup the day before, cooked in a pan for breakfast in the shape of a pancake. Currently the basic recipe consists only of potatoes pre-cooked in water the day before, then grated and cooked in butter ... or lard! There is indeed a great debate in Switzerland between the two cooking methods. You can add bacon or onions, an egg or Swiss Gruyère AOP. They are often eaten with sliced ​​veal Zurich style or simply with a green salad.

The canton of Bern is located in the heart of Switzerland, on the border between two cultures. It plays the key role of bridge between the German-speaking and French-speaking regions of the country: one of the reasons why the city of Bern, federal capital, is also the political center of the country.

The Canton offers sublime landscapes. From the capital with its arcades and bears to the prestigious summits of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, passing through the hilly landscapes of the Emmental or even the fascinating Zealand, the canton of Bern is full of natural sites of exception and recreation for the whole family.

To the south is the Bernese Oberland, with its snow-capped mountain landscapes. The Eiger is one of the 3 mythical peaks of the Swiss Alps, together with the Matterhorn and the Grandes Jorasses, its name means the "great spear", but many think it means "the ogre", due to the number of mountaineers who lost their lives during the ascent of its north face, with a drop of 1650 meters.

The Emmental is the birthplace of Swiss Emmentaler AOP. Located in the Bernese Pre-Alps, it offers magnificent landscapes: very green hills, snow-capped peaks in the distance, typical chalets, pine forests, endless bucolic meadows, a real postcard. The villages are opulent and well maintained, the farms resplendent.

In the capital, you have to stroll through the six kilometers of arcades that line the streets of the old town, surrounded by the Aare river and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cobbled streets are embellished by a hundred ornate fountains. The bear being the emblem of the city, the Bernese have dedicated a landscaped park to it, where visitors can admire several of these animals.

Seeland, or "land of lakes", is located mainly in the north of the canton of Bern. This deep depression, at the foot of the Bernese Jura, hosts the three lakes of Biel, Murten and Neuchâtel. The walks there are sublime.